Crash box radiator support

ABSTRACT

A crash box for a motor vehicle, e.g., for a passenger automobile, includes a plurality of fold beads arranged vertically and/or transversely with respect to a predetermined direction of deformation of the crash box, and at least one mounting element secured to the crash box. The mounting element is arranged on one of the fold beads but is cut out over a fold bead and/or provided with an oppositely curved, similar fold bead.

The invention relates to a crash box for a motor vehicle, in particularfor a passenger automobile, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

The use of a crash box in a conventional passenger automobile isgenerally known. The purpose of the crash box is to absorb energythrough controlled deformation in the event of an accident. To ensurethat a damaged vehicle is inexpensive to repair, the separating pointbetween a longitudinal beam and the crash box is generally inscrew-connected form. This screw-connection point is often also used tosecure other equipment holders, in which case the configuration must besuch that the deformation of the crash box is influenced to the minimumpossible extent.

DE 198 50 590 A1 has disclosed a front end region for a motor vehicle,in particular for a passenger automobile with a radiator or heatexchanger arrangement, which is connected to a front end structure at atleast two bearing points. In this document, the at least two bearingpoints are designed in such a manner that in the event of impact-relateddeformation of the front end supporting structure, they link the heatexchanger arrangement into the deformation characteristic of the frontend region in a force-transmitting and force-absorbing way. The heatexchanger arrangement, which may be composed of one or more heatexchangers, is braced into the front end supporting structure in such amanner that as a result of plastic deformation, it makes an additionalcontribution, in the manner of a soft barrier, to energy absorption andto the distribution of impact energy over large-area parts of the frontend region. The region of use is in this case in a front module of apassenger automobile. Although the heat exchanger arrangement is linkedinto the deformation characteristics in a force-transmitting andforce-absorbing way in the event of an impact-related deformation of thefront end supporting structure, no details are provided as to theinfluence of the connection between the heat exchanger arrangement andthe front end supporting structure.

DE 100 51 567 A1 has disclosed a vehicle front end structure. A frontend element of the vehicle, which includes at least one radiator, has anupper projection, which is secured to an upper insertion hole in a frontend wall of the vehicle, and a lower projection, which is secured to alower insertion hole in the front end wall. If an external force whichexceeds a predetermined level acts on the vehicle from the front side,the securing of the upper projection in the upper insertion hole isreleased, whereas the securing of the lower projection in the lowerinsertion hole is maintained. This makes it possible to prevent theentire front end element from being detached from the front end wallwhen the external force acts on the vehicle from the front side.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent damage to the front end elementas a result of the external force, and at the same time the front endelement is prevented from hitting a road surface.

The present invention deals with the problem of providing an improvedembodiment for a crash box for a motor vehicle.

This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim.Advantageous embodiments form the subject matter of the dependentclaims.

The invention is based on the general concept of arranging a mountingelement (receiving part) for fitted parts, such as for example aradiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement, on the crash box with theminimum possible influence on the deformation characteristics of thecrash box. The invention involves attaching the radiator and/or heatexchanger arrangement directly to the crash box, with the geometricconfiguration being such that the mounting element, which is U-shaped inform, receives a receiving bolt arranged on the radiator and/or heatexchanger arrangement.

The crash box has a plurality of fold beads arranged vertically and/ortransversely with respect to a predetermined direction of deformation,with the mounting element, according to the invention, being arranged insuch a way that in each case one limb of the U-shaped mounting elementruns on either side of the fold beads, while the part which connects thetwo U-limbs of the U-shaped receiving part runs transversely withrespect to the fold bead and has a similar curvature in the oppositedirection to the fold bead, so that the deformation properties are notimpeded in any way. The similar, opposite curvature also has the effectof ventilating the mounting element from behind, so that spray waterwhich penetrates can run off or evaporate more quickly, therebyimproving the resistance to corrosion.

One particularly expedient embodiment of the solution according to theinvention is characterized in that the crash box has crash box partsarranged on both sides of the longitudinal center of the vehicle, and aradiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement, positioned vertically, isarranged on the crash box, substantially transversely with respect tothe longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the radiator and/or heatexchanger arrangement in each case having a left-hand and a right-handreceiving bolt, which is received by a respective left-hand andright-hand, upwardly open U-shaped receiving part which is arranged onthe respective crash box part, and in that the radiator and/or heatexchanger arrangement, in a mounting state, is mounted such that it canrotate about an axis defined by the left-hand and right-hand receivingbolt and can be slid downwards into or upwards out of the respectiveleft-hand and right-hand U-shaped receiving part.

The result of this is that fitting of the radiator and/or heat exchangerarrangement is considerably facilitated and accelerated, thereby makingit a less expensive operation. To fit the radiator and/or heat exchangerarrangement, the latter is pushed in downwards such that the tworeceiving bolts move into the respective U-shaped, upwardly openmounting elements, and is prevented from rotational movement along anaxis defined by the two receiving bolts by at least one connection at atransverse bridge. There is no need for further connection by screwconnection, welding or the like. The radiator and/or heat exchangerarrangement is therefore fixed in the operating state and can easily beremoved for repair and/or maintenance work by releasing the at least oneconnection at the transverse bridge.

The invention offers the advantage of simple fitting and/or maintenanceof the radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement, which in times ofever increasing wage costs helps to reduce production and/or maintenancecosts.

It is expediently possible to provide that the left-hand and right-handreceiving bolts have a rubberized protective sheath. The result of thisis that any vibration noises which may occur between receiving bolts andcrash box do not form or are not transmitted, and consequently have noadverse effect on driving comfort.

According to a particularly expedient embodiment, it is provided thatthe crash box is arranged at a front or rear end of a motor vehicle.Depending on the type of vehicle, a drive device and an associatedradiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement is located in a front or rearpart of the motor vehicle. The solution according to the invention is inthis case configured in such a way that it can be used in both the frontregion and the rear region of the vehicle without difficulty.

Further important features and advantages of the invention will emergefrom the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associateddescription of figures with reference to the drawings.

It will be understood that the features described above and those whichare yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combinationindicated in each instance, but also in other combinations or asstand-alone measures without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in thedrawings and explained in more detail in the following descriptions, inwhich identical reference numerals denote identical or similar orfunctionally equivalent components. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a crash box according to theinvention with a radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement,

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of a receiving bolt and a mounting element,

FIG. 3 shows a detail view as in FIG. 2, but from a differentperspective,

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a receiving bolt and a receivingpart,

FIG. 5 shows a detail view of a mounting element.

FIG. 1 illustrates a crash box arrangement which includes a left-handcrash box part 1 and a right-hand crash box part 2, a radiator and/orheat exchanger arrangement 3 and a receiving bolt 5 and a mountingelement 4. The crash box parts 1, 2 are arranged on both sides of avehicle longitudinal center (not illustrated in FIG. 1) and hold aradiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3, which is suspended betweenthe two crash box parts 1, 2, is positioned vertically and is positionedsubstantially transversely with respect to a vehicle longitudinaldirection, not illustrated in FIG. 1.

The crash box parts 1, 2 form the crash box arrangement, which is notdesignated further. The purpose of the crash box arrangement is toabsorb energy through deformation along a deformation direction 12 inthe event of an impact occurring substantially parallel to a vehiclelongitudinal direction. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of foldbeads 7, which are arranged vertically and/or transversely with respectto the predetermined deformation direction 12, are for this purposeincorporated in the crash box parts 1, 2. The fold beads 7 form anartificial weakening in the crash box parts 1 and 2 and effectcompression and/or bending of the crash box parts 1, 2 at these weakpoints, and therefore an energy-absorbing action as a result of desiredand predetermined deformation, in the event of a force which exceeds apredetermined level acting externally on a vehicle chassis (not shown inFIG. 1).

The radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3 has in each case aleft-hand receiving bolt 5 and a right-hand receiving bolt 5′, whichengage in respectively associated U-shaped mounting elements 4 and 4′provided for this purpose. The U-shaped, upwardly open mounting elements4, 4′ are arranged on the associated crash box part 1 and 2 by way ofweld spots.

In mounting state, the radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3 canrotate about an axis of rotation 11, which is defined by the left-handreceiving bolt 5 and the right-hand receiving bolt 5′. At the same time,in the mounting state, the radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3can be slid downwards into the mounting elements 4 and 4′ or lifted outfrom the upwardly open U-shaped mounting elements 4, 4′. In an operatingstate, the radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3 is fixed inplace by a connecting element (not shown in FIG. 1) on a transversebridge (likewise not shown in FIG. 1) and is therefore prevented fromrotating about the axis of rotation 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement3 is suspended by the receiving bolts 5, 5′ in the mounting elements 4,4′. A rubberized protective sheath 6 is pulled over that end of thereceiving bolts 5, 5′ which is remote from the radiator and/or heatexchanger arrangement 3, which receiving bolts have been pushedvertically downwards into the associated mounting element 4, 4′. Therubberized protective sheath 6 prevents vibrations from beingtransmitted from the crash box parts 1, 2 to the radiator and/or heatexchanger arrangement 3 and visa versa, and also prevents a noisyrelative movement between the receiving bolt 5, 5′ and the mountingelement 4, 4′.

It can be seen clearly from FIG. 4 that the mounting element 4 is ineach case arranged with a left-hand and a right-hand limb 9, 8 at anintermediate space 10 located between the fold beads 7, with the foldbead 7 itself remaining cut away. Ideally, the axis of rotation 11 runscentrally through the receiving bolt 5 and a base 14 of the fold bead 7.The head-like formation of that end of the receiving bolt 5 which isremote from the radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3 preventsthe radiator and/or heat exchanger arrangement 3 from movingtransversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,i.e. along the axis of rotation 11, and thereby fixes it in placebetween the two crash box parts 1, 2.

In accordance with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the mounting element 4 is arrangedat a lower end of the fold bead 7. In principle, however, it is alsoconceivable for the mounting element 4 to be arranged at a differentposition along the fold bead 7. This is made possible by a curvature 13running in the opposite direction to the fold bead 7 and also parallelto the latter (cf. FIG. 5). The curvature 13, similarly to the foldbeads 7 in the crash box parts 1, 2, forms a region which can readily bedeformed along the deformation direction 12, i.e. transversely withrespect to the profile of a curvature valley.

Moreover, the curvature 13 offers the considerable advantage ofproviding ventilation for the mounting element 4 from the rear, so thatpenetrating spray water can escape downward. Without the curvature 13, ablind formation would result, leading to standing water being presenttherein, with an increased risk of corrosion.

To summarize, the following points should be noted:

A plurality of fold beads 7 are incorporated in the crash box parts 1,2, producing an artificial weakening and effecting compression and/orbending in the event of a forceful impact along the deformationdirection 12.

U-shaped, upwardly open mounting elements 4, 4′ are arranged on thecrash box parts 1, 2 by way of weld spots.

The mounting element 4, 4′ is fitted to the fold bead 7 in such a waythat in each case the left-hand and right-hand limbs 9, 8 are arrangedat the intermediate space 10, and the fold bead 7 itself remains cutaway.

The mounting element 4, 4′ has a curvature 13 running in the oppositedirection to the fold bead 7, (cf. FIG. 5) and, similarly to the foldbeads 7, forms a region which is readily deformable.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A crash box for a motor vehicle, comprising: aplurality of fold beads arranged at least one of (a) vertically and (b)transversely with respect to a predetermined direction of deformation ofthe crash box; and at least one mounting element secured to the crashbox; wherein the mounting element is arranged on one of the fold beads,the mounting element one of (a) recessed above the one of the fold beadsand (b) including an oppositely curved fold bead.
 10. The crash boxaccording to claim 9, wherein the motor vehicle includes a passengerautomobile.
 11. The crash box according to claim 9, further comprising:a first crash box part arranged on a first side of a longitudinal centerof the motor vehicle; a second crash box part arranged on a second sideof the longitudinal center of the motor vehicle; and at least one of (a)a radiator and (b) a heat exchanger arrangement, positioned verticallyand arranged substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle, the at least one of (a) the radiator and (b) the heatexchanger arrangement including a first receiving bolt and a secondreceiving bolt, the first receiving bolt received by a first upwardlyopen U-shaped receiver part of the mounting element arranged on thefirst crash box part, the second receiving bolt received by a secondupwardly open U-shaped receiver part of the mounting element arranged onthe second crash box part.
 12. The crash box according to claim 11,wherein the at least one of (a) the radiator and (b) the heat exchangerarrangement, in a mounting state, is mounted to rotate about an axisdefined by the first receiving bolt and the second receiving bolt and toslide one of (a) downwardly into and (b) upwardly out of the firstU-shaped receiver part and the second U-shaped receiver part.
 13. Thecrash box according to claim 11, further comprising at least oneconnection arranged at a transverse bridge configured to prevent the atleast one of (a) the radiator and (b) the heat exchanger arrangementfrom rotational movement in an operating state.
 14. The crash boxaccording to claim 11, wherein the at least one of (a) the radiator and(b) the heat exchanger arrangement is arranged to hang freely betweenthe first U-shaped receiver part and the second U-shaped receiver partin an operating state.
 15. The crash box according to claim 11, whereinthe first receiving bolt and the second receiving bolt include arubberized protective sheath.
 16. The crash box according to claim 9,wherein the crash box is arranged at a front end of the motor vehicle.17. The crash box according to claim 9, wherein the crash box isarranged at a rear end of the motor vehicle.
 18. A motor vehicle,comprising: a crash box, the crash box including: a plurality of foldbeads arranged at least one of (a) vertically and (b) transversely withrespect to a predetermined direction of deformation of the crash box;and at least one mounting element secured to the crash box; wherein themounting element is arranged on one of the fold beads, the mountingelement one of (a) recessed above the one of the fold beads and (b)including an oppositely curved fold bead.